A
system for transferring data from a television
receiver to a
display device and a shared data device includes a
digital television receiver, a
display device, at least one shared data device, and a communications channel coupled to the television
receiver and the shared data devices. The television receiver receives,
decodes, and processes a digitally encoded television
signal (e.g., MPEG). This processed
signal is provided to a
display device (e.g., television monitor). In addition, an auxiliary
data signal, sent with the digitally encoded television
signal, is sent to at least one shared data device. Each of the shared data devices may be a printer, another television receiver, a
digital video tape recorder, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). With a
system as described herein, the auxiliary data may be an
electronic program guide such that a viewer may print a program menu for subsequent review. Upon reviewing the printed program menu, the viewer may then select a channel for viewing or program a
video tape recorder to
record a selected channel. Alternatively, a viewer may transfer the
electronic program guide to a PDA, review the program menu on the PDA, and subsequently program the television receiver, via the PDA, to select a channel for viewing or program a
video tape recorder, via the PDA, to
record a selected channel.